This wiki entry describes the installation of ArchLinux on a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ38GP laptop. I a still configuring some stuff to make every thing works as I would, but I decide to share what I have done so far. Do not hesitate to had your own trick to improve the Archlinux experience on that device.

Basically you just need to follow the [[Beginners' guide]], I recommend to do the installation under the stamina mode (with intel graphic card less trouble) and then I will explain how to configure the speed mode.

*Backup the files : libGL.so.1.2 and libglx.so that you can find respectively under the folder /usr/lib/ and /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/

*Backup the files : libGL.so.1.2 and libglx.so that you can find respectively under the folder /usr/lib/ and /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/

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*'''You need to copy them in a different location because when you will install the nvidia driver it will automatically remove them.'''

*'''You need to copy them in a different location because when you will install the nvidia driver it will automatically remove them.'''

*Backup your xorg.conf file that you can find under /etc/X11/

*Backup your xorg.conf file that you can find under /etc/X11/

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''I choose to put the lib file under the folder /opt/gpu/intel/lib and the xorg.conf as /etc/X11/xorg.intel''

''I choose to put the lib file under the folder /opt/gpu/intel/lib and the xorg.conf as /etc/X11/xorg.intel''

*Reboot the computer in Speed Mode.

*Reboot the computer in Speed Mode.

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If you are running X you need to kill it. First go to a command prompt using Ctrl+Alt+F1-6 and after you have login run the command: killall X. You also need to kill kdm (killall kdm) or other login manager that you may have since it will make X respawn.

If you are running X you need to kill it. First go to a command prompt using Ctrl+Alt+F1-6 and after you have login run the command: killall X. You also need to kill kdm (killall kdm) or other login manager that you may have since it will make X respawn.

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Then you have to change the runlevel by using the command: init 3.

Then you have to change the runlevel by using the command: init 3.

*Run the script provided by nvidia to install the driver, it will automatically generate a new xorg.conf file with the correct setting for you graphic card.

*Run the script provided by nvidia to install the driver, it will automatically generate a new xorg.conf file with the correct setting for you graphic card.

Line 124:

Line 37:

*Make you script executable using the following command : chmod +x <your_script_name>

*Make you script executable using the following command : chmod +x <your_script_name>

*Add your script path to the /etc/rc.local file.

*Add your script path to the /etc/rc.local file.

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==Screen Brightness==

==Screen Brightness==

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For each graphic card there is a specific program that handle it, for the Intel card it is xbacklight and for Nvidia card it is smartdimmer.

For each graphic card there is a specific program that handle it, for the Intel card it is xbacklight and for Nvidia card it is smartdimmer.

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xbacklight is installed by default with the Intel driver so you have nothing to do, but for Nvidia you will have to install smartdimmer that you can find in [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=13632 AUR].

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xbacklight is installed by default with the Intel driver so you have nothing to do, but for Nvidia you will have to install {{AUR|smartdimmer}}{{Broken package link|{{aur-mirror|smartdimmer}}}} from the [[AUR]].

Know we will have to configure acpi to configure the fn keys.

Know we will have to configure acpi to configure the fn keys.

*Go to /etc/acpi/events and create two files sonybright-down sonybright-up.

*Go to /etc/acpi/events and create two files sonybright-down sonybright-up.

Line 180:

Line 96:

==Wifi==

==Wifi==

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If you have your wireless switch that is not automatically activating your wireless if you do not turn it on before turn on your computer.

If you have your wireless switch that is not automatically activating your wireless if you do not turn it on before turn on your computer.

You can fix the problem by adding the following line to /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf

You can fix the problem by adding the following line to /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf

options sony-laptop mask=0xffffdfff

options sony-laptop mask=0xffffdfff

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==Fan Speed==

==Fan Speed==

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You can control the fan speed by using the '''vaiofand''' daemon that you can find on this address : [http://vaio-utils.org/fan/ http://vaio-utils.org/fan/]

You can control the fan speed by using the '''vaiofand''' daemon that you can find on this address : [http://vaio-utils.org/fan/ http://vaio-utils.org/fan/]

There is also a PKGBUILD available in [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38826 AUR].

There is also a PKGBUILD available in [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38826 AUR].

==Power Saving==

==Power Saving==

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You can automatically turn of some device like the bluetooth, the firewire port, the cd/dvd drive or the audio card by using the '''vaiopower''' daemon that you can find on this address : [http://vaio-utils.org/power/ http://vaio-utils.org/power/]

You can automatically turn of some device like the bluetooth, the firewire port, the cd/dvd drive or the audio card by using the '''vaiopower''' daemon that you can find on this address : [http://vaio-utils.org/power/ http://vaio-utils.org/power/]

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There is also a PKGBUILD available in [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38859 AUR].

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There is also a PKGBUILD available in [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/vaiopower/ AUR].

Contents

Switch Mode

Backup the files : libGL.so.1.2 and libglx.so that you can find respectively under the folder /usr/lib/ and /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/

You need to copy them in a different location because when you will install the nvidia driver it will automatically remove them.

Backup your xorg.conf file that you can find under /etc/X11/

I choose to put the lib file under the folder /opt/gpu/intel/lib and the xorg.conf as /etc/X11/xorg.intel

Reboot the computer in Speed Mode.

If you are running X you need to kill it. First go to a command prompt using Ctrl+Alt+F1-6 and after you have login run the command: killall X. You also need to kill kdm (killall kdm) or other login manager that you may have since it will make X respawn.

Then you have to change the runlevel by using the command: init 3.

Run the script provided by nvidia to install the driver, it will automatically generate a new xorg.conf file with the correct setting for you graphic card.

Backup the files libGL.so.<Nvidia Version> and libglx.so.<Nvidia Version> that you can respectively find in /usr/lib and /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions

Backup xorg.conf file generated by the nvidia driver

I choose to put the lib file under the folder /opt/gpu/nv/lib and the xorg.conf as /etc/X11/xorg.nv

Make you script executable using the following command : chmod +x <your_script_name>

Add your script path to the /etc/rc.local file.

Screen Brightness

For each graphic card there is a specific program that handle it, for the Intel card it is xbacklight and for Nvidia card it is smartdimmer.

xbacklight is installed by default with the Intel driver so you have nothing to do, but for Nvidia you will have to install smartdimmerAUR[broken link: archived in aur-mirror] from the AUR.
Know we will have to configure acpi to configure the fn keys.

Go to /etc/acpi/events and create two files sonybright-down sonybright-up.

Wifi

If you have your wireless switch that is not automatically activating your wireless if you do not turn it on before turn on your computer.
You can fix the problem by adding the following line to /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf

options sony-laptop mask=0xffffdfff

Fan Speed

You can control the fan speed by using the vaiofand daemon that you can find on this address : http://vaio-utils.org/fan/
There is also a PKGBUILD available in AUR.

Power Saving

You can automatically turn of some device like the bluetooth, the firewire port, the cd/dvd drive or the audio card by using the vaiopower daemon that you can find on this address : http://vaio-utils.org/power/
There is also a PKGBUILD available in AUR.